The Essence of the Channel Islands, Distilled
Rebellious Spirits
In 1920s Prohibition-era California, Ventura’s coastline was alive with rebellion. Under cover of darkness, ships like the infamous Grey Ghost raced in from the Channel Islands, carrying precious cargo from floating speakeasies anchored just beyond the three-mile limit. This was Rum Row — where Caribbean spirits awaited daring smugglers who risked everything to bring them ashore. The Channel Islands offered perfect cover, and soon local fishermen became rum runners by night, knowing exceptional spirits were worth the danger.
Refined by Craft
Founded in 2013, Channel Islands Distillery was the first distillery established in Ventura County, California, for those who appreciate quality, handcrafted spirits with an edge. Today, we honor the legacy of those rebellious spirits — not through smuggling, but through craft. Where rum runners once braved open waters to bring Caribbean spirits ashore, we now distill our own using the finest ingredients this beautiful region offers. Every bottle carries the fearless spirit of those adventurers and continues a story that began over a century ago.
